Medical Professionals Advice Regarding Condoms and STDs: Is the Use of Condoms by Adolescents A Pediatric Concern?

Medical professional's advice regarding the use of condoms for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can come from many different directions.

For instance, consider this clinical brief, written by Monica Preboth, entitled "Prevention of HIV Infection In Adolescents." (1)

"One half of all new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in the United States occur among persons 13 to 24 years of age, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Most of these cases are sexually transmitted." (2)

Preventative health education regarding the proper use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV infections or other STDs is a growing pediatric concern, not just one that is limited to the realm of teenagers or adults, as these diseases can affect children of all ages.

"Physicians may be able to help slow the spread of infection by educating young patients about HIV prevention, transmission and testing." (3)

Global education is one of the ways that medical professionals deal with the reality of disease prevention, but there may be instances in which the focus of global health education with regard to disease prevention may not appear to be a pediatric concern, as it seems to be more relevant to the older population. With regard to HIV infections and STDs, it affects them also.

The high incidence of HIV infections and STD cases in adolescents is cause for alarm in the medical world. The spread of HIV infections or STDs among adolescents is also a reason for pediatric concern.

"Prevention guidance should include helping adolescents understand the responsibilities of becoming sexually active, including counseling about the correct and consistent use of latex condoms." (4)

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that pertains to the growth and development of children, their health and 

medical care, as well as those diseases that affect children. Globally, HIV infections, as well as other STDs, invariably present a serious health threat to the lives of children of all ages.

One might ask where the highest incidence of HIV infections or other STDs is, particularly in young or older adolescents. Where is it the highest incidence in children and infants? Globally, there is a high rate of HIV infections among adolescents, children and infants.

Have those who have been monitoring the progress of HIV infections, considered them from a pediatric perspective or regarded them as sexually transmitted disease, that may be spread by adolescents to children and then, by children to other children? The same may be true with regard to other STDs, including those considered as teenage or adult problems, rather than pediatric concerns.

Children, by their very nature, seek to explore their human sexuality and often at an early age. This is may be prior to the time when they become adolescents or teenagers. Some may argue that children or young adolescents may not be old enough to be educated about HIV infections or other STDs and the possible prevention of them through the proper use of condoms.

The proper and consistent use of condoms by young males is not the only plausible solution with regard to the spread of HIV infections or other STDs, but it is one option that medical educators on all levels, particularly those who are actively engaged in the realm of pediatrics, might consider more seriously.

Condoms that are not used properly can break or have spillage of semen, if or when they are not used properly and thus, a young female can become infected with HIV or a STD. She can also experience an early childhood pregnancy, even when a condom is used. This can prove to be a tragic scenario for families, whose lives are affected. It is particularly tragic, when a young girl is mentally disabled and not aware of what is happening to her. Too many babies are being born with HIV infections.

How young is too young to teach young males and females about the correct use of condoms by young males, not only as a method of prevention of HIV infections and other STDs, but also as an effective method of birth control?

Adolescence is the period from puberty to maturity, but adolescent males and females can still be physically, mentally and emotionally immature and choose to become sexually active. Thus, the problem of education regarding the effective use of condoms by adolescents becomes one that is relatively complex.

HIV infections and other STDs are spreading and affecting people of all ages. What affects adolescents, affects entire families, including children and infants. Even the older generations are adversely affected.

Appropriate disease prevention measures should be included on every level of health care education. With regard to pediatric health care education and disease prevention, this should include appropriate education for adolescents, as well as their parents.

From a medical professional perspective, ongoing education for adolescents regarding the proper use of condoms for the prevention of HIV infections and other STDs is a pediatric concern. Disease prevention concerns everyone.

1. http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010701/clinical.html

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.